Folding curtain stretcher



April 29, 1952 u w 2,594,368

FOLDING CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed May 24, 1947 2 Sl'1EETS-SI-iEET l INVENTOR. BY JZwZ/w 15 v J5 w A ril 29, 1952 I K. J. UNWlN 2,594,368

FOLDING CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed May 24, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET? Patented Apr. 29, 1952 FOLDING CURTAIN STRETCHER Kenneth J. Unwin, Kenosha, Wis., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Quaker Stretcher Company, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 24, 1947, Serial No. 750.333

8 Claims.

This invention relates to curtain stretchers, particularly of the type known as apartmentsizestretchers wherein the curtain is stretched over a horizontally extending ridge member between horizontal frame members that are disposed on opposite sides of the stretcher below theridge member, the purpose of this arrangement being to minimize the space required by the curtain while drying.

An object of this invention is to provide an in proved curtain stretcher of unitary construction which may be folded or collapsed without disassembling the frame members.

A further object is to provide an improved apartment-size stretcher in which the upright frame members or legs are pivotally connected to the ridge member so that the entire structure may readily be collapsed into a compact form when not in use.

A still further object is to provide a folding curtainstretcher of the aforesaid character so constructed that the horizontal frame members and the upright frame members or legs may readily be positioned in nesting relation parallel with the ridge member when the stretcher is not in use.

A still further object ,is to provide an apartment-size stretcher having an imprQved form of ridge member especially adapted for the aforesaid purposes and effective to prevent the formation of a crease in the curtain when stretched for drying thereon.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the, invention will be apparent from the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings Wherein a certain preferred embodiment is set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings, wherein like reference nu merals refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a curtain stretcher constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles ofthe invention, the stretcher being shown unfolded and set up for use;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stretcher when partially folded or collapsed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stretcher when completely collapsed;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6, '7, 8, 9 and 10 are sectional views respectively taken on the correspondingly humbered section lines in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional View on the line llll in Fig. 10.

Referring to Fig. l, the illustrated curtain stretcher includes upright frame members I2, I4 and [6, each comprising a pair of legs as l8 and 20, 22 and 24, or 26 and 28, respectively, which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to a horizontal ridge member 38. Horizontal frame members or rails 32 and 34 extend at right angles to the legs of the upright frame members [2, l4 and I6, being held on these uprights by vertically adjustable retaining devices which are described hereinafter. The upright legs I8, 20, 22 and 24 and the rails 32 and 34 are provided with curtain-fastening devices, such as pins 36, adapted to grip the marginal edge portions of the fabric.

The position of the upright member [4 is adjustable lengthwise of the ridge member 30 to accommodate various widths of curtains. In most instances, Wherethe length of the curtain is greater than the lengths of the upright legs of the curtain stretcher, the horizontal frame inembers 32 and 34 are disposed on opposite sides of the uprights. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the frame member 32 is held in contact with the legs [8, 22 and.26. The curtain thenis attached at its ends respectively to the frame members 32 and 34 and is stretched over the ridge member 30. For curtains of shorter length, when it is not necessary to stretch the curtain over the ridge member 30, the horizontal frame members 32 and 34 may be disposed on the same side of the uprights l2, l4 and I6.

The ridge member 30 has a relatively broad, smooth, arcuate outer surface which preferably is semicircular, as shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7. The supporting legs of each of the uprights 12, la and I6 diverge downwardly from the member 39 at an angle of about 30 degrees. In this way, the curtain, when stretched over the ridge member 30, extends downwardly on a tangent to the member 30 on either side thereof, the circular curvature of the curtain-engaging surface continuing below the points of tangency to insure that there is no crease in the dry, stretched curtain. The ridge member 30 is constructed of a suitable material such as wood, plastic or aluminum.

In accordance with the present invention, the ridge member 30 has a hollow interior so that it is shaped as a semicircular channel in cross-section, Figs. 4, 6 and 7. The legs l8 and 20 of the curtain stretcher are connected to the ridge member 30 by an inverted, substantially U-shaped plate or strap 33, Figs. 4 and 5, of metal or other rigid material which is connected to the ridge member 39, in contact with the underside thereof, by rivets 46. The curved portion of the plate 38 conforms with the curvature of the interior surface of the ridge member 3E, and the legs of the plate 38 divergedo'wnwardlyas shown. Small molding sections 42 are secured by rivets :3 to the legs of the strap 38 immediately below the ridge member 30. Below the molding sections 42 are disposed the upper end portions of the legs l8 and 2H which are pivotally connected to the strap 33 by rivets 4E. Thelower ends of the molding sections 42 and the upper ends of the legs l8 and 2B are mitered in complementary fashion to limit the pivotal movement of the legs I8 and 28 when they are swung away from their folded-up positions adjacent the ridge member 30, as shown in Fig. 3, to their unfolded positions as shown in Fig. 1. The lowermost corners of the molding sectionstii are relieved as indicated at 43, Fig. 5, to afford clearance for the legs 18 and 29 in their pivotal movement. The curtain-engaging or seating surfaces of the molding sections f2 are flush with those of the member 39 and the legs It and adjoining thereto, and the sections '42 may be provided'with pins 36 as are the legs 58 and 2f]. Braces 58, Fig. 1, each vpivotally connected atone end thereof to theridge member 3B, have notched lower ends thatare adapted to receive pins 52 projecting from the inner surfaces of the legs is and 29 to hook these legs in'openposition when the curtainstretcher is set up for use. Thus, the legs 18 .and 2c ,of'the upright frame'mem-ber 52 are rigidly held in fixed positions with respect to the ridgemember 30.

At .the other and of the ridge member -56, I provide an inverted U-shaped plate or strap 53, Fig. '7, the curved portion of which conforms with the innercurvedrface of the'membergemto which 1 .it is secured .by rivets 55. The upper end portions of the upright legs and 23 are'pivotal-ly connected to the lower end portions of the strap 54 by rivets 58 and are spaced from the lower edges .of the member '39. The spacing of the pivots 58 from the member 36 is less than the spacingof the pivots ,48 of the legs 68 and 2D from the member 3B, the purpose of this relation being made apparenthereinafter.

The legs 22 and 24 of the intermediate-upright frame member M are pivotally connected at their upper ends by rivets or studs iiflto the depending legs of platesor jaws 62 and 84,,respectively, which form cooperating 'parts of a clamping device that is attached to the ridge member 30. .A horizontalbrace member 6'6 extends between and is secured to the studs -63 to maintain the depending legs of the plates 52 and 64 in fixed relation. A thumbscrew 15315 provided to move the jaws 62 and 64 toward or away from each other. Each of the jaw plates 62 and 64 is curved around a portion of the outer surface of the ridge member 30, being then offset inwardly adjacent the lower'edges of the member 3!] and then extending downward adjacent the inner face of the leg22 or 24. "For a reason which will be explained presently, the pivots 6B of the legs 22 and 24 are located closer to the'ridge member 39 than are either the pivots '53 of the legs 26 and 28, or the pivots 46 of the legs !8 and 20. The horizontalposition of .the upright frame member 14 may be adjusted by loosening the thumb screw 68 and sliding the clamp 64 and the depending legs 22 and 24 of the frame member I4 lengthwise of the ridge member 30, the clamp being tightened when the legs have been properly positioned. The exposed portions of the clamp plates 82 and 64 are disposed to one side of the curtain when it is stretched over the ridge meme ber 38.

The horizontal frame membersiif and 34 are connected to the uprights 12, I4 and E6 in similar fashion, and hence a description of the retaining devices for the frame member 32 alone will sufhce for both of these frame members. Referring to Fig. 9, the end of the frame member 32 abuts the innerlcngitudinal edge of the leg 20 in such manner that the curtain-seating portions of the members Etiand 32 are flush with respect to each other. An elongated plate T9 riveted to the back of frame member 32 extends be yond the member 32 across the rear face of the leg 20 and through an aperture in another plate 72 which is in the form of a small angle adapted to bear against the outer edge portion of the'leg "23. The outerend of the plate 19 is bentat right angles, and athumb screwld is threaded through atapped opening inthe bent portion of this plate :5 to bear against the plate 72. "This arrangement affords a clamp for maintaining the members 20 and 22m fixed relation,

The other end of the horizontal frame member 32 is disposed against the leg 28 in front thereof and is attached to this legbya clamping device shown in Fig. 8. A threaded rod orstud '|6 is bent around the leg23 and extends through a hole in the frame member 32. The other end of the bent rod 16 isreceived inanother hole in the member 32. A wing nut 18 threaded on the outer end of the rod '76 is provided to clamp the horizontal'frame memberfiZ firmly against the leg 23.

The members 32 and 36 extend across the legs 24 and 22, respectively. Because of the fact that the curtain-seating surface of each frame member 32 and 34 1s disposed outwardly from the curtain-seating surface of the corresponding leg 24 or 22 in an amount equal to the thicknessof the horizontalframe member, devices known as leveling bridges are provided to afford intermediate curtain-retaining bodies which maintain uniformity of tension of the curtain in these areas.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, each levelin bridge 83 comprises a wooden'block 82 and a metal strip 84 having an offset flange 86 which conforms with the configuration of the leg as 24. The strip 84 is secured to the block 82 in any suitable manner, the block serving to add rigidity to the strip 84. The bridge 80 is retained on the leg as 24 by metal straps 88 and 90 disposed near the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the bridge The'strap 99 is secured to the bridge 80 and extends approximately half-way around the legs as 24. lhe strap 88 embraces the leg as24 on both sides thereof and carries a bolt 92 which extends through openings in'the strip-{Hand block 82 and is threaded into a wing nut 94 that bears on the outer face of the block 82. A tail portion of the block 32 extends over the horizontal frame member as 32. By tightening the wing nut 94, the block 82 is drawn against the frame member as 32, which in turn bears against the leg as 24. The strip 84 terminates a short distance above the horizontal frame member as 32. The flange 86 is extended slightly below this point and passes behind a portion of-the strap 88.

The flange 86 of the bridge 80 affords a curtam-engaging surface which slopes from the curtain-engaging surface of the horizontal frame member as 32 to a pointon the curtain-engagin surface of the leg as 22. Pins 96 are anchored in the flange 86 to fasten the edge portion of the curtain to the bridge 80. The lowermost one of the pins 95 projects through an aperture in the strap 88 thereby to prevent turning of the strap on the bolt 92 when the bridge is moved.

It .will be understood that the foregoing description of the leveling bridge 88 which is mounted on the leg 24 applies equally well to the leveling bridge 82 mounted on the leg 22, except that one is a right hand bridge while the other is a "left hand bridge. Both of these bridges serve to clamp the horizontal frame members 32 and 34 and the legs 24 and 22 in fixed positions with respect to each other, as well as gripping the curtain at the junctions thereof.

The first step in collapsing the curtain stretcher is to loosen the various clamping devices on the horizontal frame members 32 and 34, including the thumb screws M and the wing nuts IS and 94. The legs 22 and 24 of the intermediate upright frame member I l may then be swung toward the ridge member 30 to free the bridges 8!! from engagement with the frame members 32 and 32. Coil springs 98, Fig. 11, disposed on the bolts 92 of the bridges 8U urge the flanges 86 against the strap 88. Pins I00, Figs. 1 and 10,

on the lower ends of the legs 22 and 24 prevent molding sections 42 and the strap 54. The legs -15 22 and 24 swing inwardly and nest against the frame members 32 and 34 in parallelism with the ridge member 32.

The next step is to pivot the legs 26 and 28 toward the ridge member 30 and cause them to be positioned in parallelism therewith outside of, and adjacent to, the legs 22 and 22, respectively. The braces 59 are unhooked from the legs [8 and 2 0 and turned on their pivots until they nest within the hollow ridge member 38.

i8 and 20 then'are turned on their pivots 46 as shown in Fig. 2 and brought into parallelism with the ridge member 32.

Because of the above mentioned spacings of the various leg pivots from the ridge member 32, the legs 22 and 24 are caused to nest within the legs 26 and 28, which in turn nest within the legs l3 and 29 when the upright frame members are brought into parallelism with the ridge member The structure, when collapsed, assumes a very compact form as shown in Fig. 3, which fa cilitates storing or shipping it. The thumb screw 68 of the clamping device 54 is positioned to one side of the member 36 so as not to damage the shipping carton.

The operation of unfolding the curtain stretcher and setting it up for use is the reverse of that just described.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that I have provided a novel curtain stretcher of the apartment type which may readily be collapsed when not in use and yet is rigid and sturdy when set up for use. The legs l8 and 22 are securely locked when in upright position and the legs 22, 24, 26 and 28 are likewise firmly supported The legs 6 in upright positions by virtue of being clamped to the frame members 32 and 34 which are locked to the legs [8 and 20. The structure has all of the advantages of apartment-size stretchers of the non-folding type. The spacing of the upright frame members [2 and I4 is easily adjusted. Likewise the positions of the horizontal frame members 32 and 34 may conveniently be varied to suit the needs of the user. The ridge member 30 is formed so as to prevent creasing or marking of the curtain.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiment set forth for pur-'- poses of illustration without departing from the principles of the invention. The invention is accordingly not to be limited to the precise details disclosed herein but includes all modifications thereof within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. A unitary, folding type curtain stretcher comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced up; right frame members, a ridge member extending across the upper ends of said upright frame members, horizontal frame members adapted to extend at right angles to said upright frame members, and pivotal connecting devices between said ridge member and said upright frame members whereby said upright frame members may be pivoted into substantial parallelism with said ridge member, at least one of said connecting devices permitting adjustment of an upright frame member longitudinally of said ridge member.

2. A curtain stretcher comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced upright frame members, a ridge member extending across the upper'ends of said upright 'framemembers, horizontal'frame members adapted to extend at right angles to said upright frame members, pivotal connecting devices between said ridge member and said upright frame members whereby said upright frame members may be pivoted into substantial parallelism with said ridge member, at least one of said connecting devices permitting adjustment of an upright frame member longitudinally of said ridge member, and clamping devices to secure said horizontal frame members respectively to said upright frame members.

3. A curtain stretcher comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced upright frame members arranged in diverging pairs, a ridge member which is wide compared to said frame members extending between and interconnecting said frame members at the upper ends thereof, said ridge member entirely overlying said upright frame members, said ridge member having an inverted semicircular channel shape and said upright frame members extending substantially tangentially therefrom, a pair of horizontal frame members supported by said upright frame members, and curtain-fastening devices disposed on both said horizontal frame members and on a pair of said upright frame members, said horizontal frame members being disposed on opposite sides of said upright frame members whereby the curtain is stretched over said ridge member.

4. A unitary, folding type curtain stretcher comprising horizontally spaced upright frame members, each of said upright frame members comprising a pair of legs, an upper ridge member which is wide compared to said upright frame members, said ridge member having substantially concentric, arcuate innerand outer surfaces, and pivotal connecting devices joining said upright frame members to said ridge member, said ridge member entirely overlying said upright frame members, at least one of said pivotal connectin A collapsible, unitary curtain stretcher comprising a plurality of horizontallyspaced upright frame members, each of said upright frame members having a pair of supportinglegs, a ridge lmember extending across and entirely overlying the upper-ends of said upright frame members, a plurality of horizontal frame members adjust ably mounted on said upright iramemembers at any-desired elevation, and pivotal connecti devices joininglthe legs of said upright frame members to said ridge member whereby said legs may be pivoted into substantial parallelism with said ridge member, said connecting. devices being 50- arranged that the pivot points of the legs of each upright .frame member are located at difvierent distances from said ridge member than are the legs of other upright frame members, whereby all said legs are positioned in nesting relationship adjacent Said ridge member and .said horizontal frame member when the stretcher iscollapsed.

6. A collapsible curtain stretcher comprising three horizontally spaced upright frame members, each of said frame members having a pair of downwardly diverging legs, a ridge member having a smooth, substantially semicircular up per surface and extending across the upper ends of said upright .irame members, pivotal ccnnesting devices joining the legs of said upright frame members to said ridge member vibe-shy all said legs may be swung intosubstantial parallelism with said ridge member, said connecting devices being so arranged that the pivot points of the legs of each upright frame member are areposit-ioned in nesting relationship adjacent "said ridge member when'the stretcher is collapsed, a pair or" horizontal frame members, and

clamping devices .ior attaching said horizontal frame members respectively to the legs on onposite sides of said upright frame members at any desiredelevation.

7. A collapsible curtain stretcher comprising three horizontally spaced upright frame members, each of said frame members havin a pair of downwardly diverging legs, a ridge member extending across the upper ends of said upright frame members, pivotal connecting devices joining the legs of said upright frame members to said ridge member whereby all said legs may be swung into nesting relationship substantially parallel with said ridge member, the pivotal connecting device for joining the legs of the intermediate upright frame ,member to said ridge member being slidably adjustable on said ridge member and includingclamping means whereby said connecting device may be secured to the ridge member in an adjusted. position, a pair of horizontal frame members, and clamping devices attaching said horizontal frame members respectively to the legs on opposite sides of said uprightirame members at any desired elevation. thereby to enable a curtain to be stretched over said ridge member between said horizontal frame members.

8. A curtain stretcher as .set forth in claim 1 wherein the ridge pole is semi-cylindrical in configuration and entirely overliesthe upright frame members.

KENNETH J. UNWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 863,223 Roush i Aug. 13, 1907 925,210 Miller June 15, 1909 1,645,245 Knittel Oct. 11, 1927 1,995,396 Moore W Mar. 25, 1935 2,205,820 McBryde June 25, 1940 2,242,386 Block et a1. c... May 20, 1941 

